New Zealand and Philippines form Comprehensive Partnership

The Foreign Ministers of New Zealand and the Philippines have announced a Comprehensive Partnership today.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa P. Lazaro formalised the Comprehensive Partnership during a meeting in Manila, while also discussing priority bilateral and regional issues. 

“New Zealand and the Philippines are close friends and trusted partners on the world stage – and today we turn this friendship into concrete action,” Mr Peters says.

“Elevating our relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership signals the importance we place on working together to support a stable, rules-based Indo-Pacific.”

The Comprehensive Partnership provides a framework for deeper collaboration across four pillars: political engagement; defence, security, and maritime cooperation; trade and economic ties; and people-to-people links.

“The Philippines is a dynamic partner in Southeast Asia – a regional powerhouse of 113 million people, and one of the region’s fastest-growing economies. This year, New Zealand and the Philippines are also celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations – making this a timely moment to elevate our relationship.”

At the conclusion of their meeting, Mr Peters and Foreign Secretary Lazaro released a Joint Statement and a Comprehensive Partnership Roadmap outlining priority areas of bilateral cooperation. 

New Zealand and the Philippines also signed two new cooperation arrangements today to give effect to the Comprehensive Partnership on education and geothermal energy.

During his bilateral programme in Manila today, Mr Peters is also meeting Philippines Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and attending an event to promote New Zealand’s growing education cooperation with the Philippines. 

From this evening, Mr Peters’ focus in Manila turns to Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN)-related events and engagements. ...